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Wearing a surgical mask during chemotherapy session is safe
Ali Alkan1, Mert Şahin2, Ece Dilan Bozkurt2
1Department of Medical Oncology, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University School of Medicine, Kötekli Mah. Marmaris Yolu Bulvarı No: 55 Menteşe, 48000, Muğla, Türkiye. alkanali@yahoo.com.
Scientific Reports
|March 28, 2025
Summary
Wearing surgical masks (SM) during chemotherapy may cause slight CO2 retention and a tendency to hypoxemia. However, these changes are clinically insignificant, showing SM are safe for cancer patients undergoing treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Infectious Disease Control
Background:
- Surgical masks (SM) are widely used for infection prevention.
- The impact of SM on patients undergoing chemotherapy is not well understood.
- Assessing SM effects on oxygenation and CO2 levels in this population is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of SM on oxygenation and CO2 retention in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
- To examine the potential clinical consequences of SM use in this patient group.
Main Methods:
- The study included 126 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
- Venous blood gas analysis, pulse oximetry (SpO2), and vital signs were measured before and after treatment.
- Acute toxicities during treatment were recorded.
Main Results:
- Statistically significant changes were observed in pH, pCO2, HCO3, SpO2, and fever.
- These changes were minor and remained within normal clinical ranges.
- No correlation was found between lung-related factors, treatment details, or acute toxicity and the observed parameters.
Conclusions:
- Constant use of SM in chemotherapy patients can lead to mild CO2 retention and a trend towards hypoxemia.
- These physiological changes are clinically insignificant.
- Surgical masks can be safely used by cancer patients receiving systemic treatment.
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